In a statement broadcast on state television, Maliki said the cabinet has "created a special crisis cell to follow up on the process of volunteering and equipping and arming."

The cabinet "praises the willingness of the citizens and the sons of the tribes to volunteer and carry weapons ... to defend the homeland and defeat terrorism," he said.

Maliki said the cabinet also decided to "restructure and reorganize" the security forces, and to ask parliament to "announce a state of emergency."

Violence is running at its highest levels since 2006-2007, when tens of thousands were killed in clashes between Iraq's Shiite majority and Sunni Arab minority.

The level of violence in Iraq surged last year after an April 23 operation by security forces at an anti-government protest camp near Hawijah that sparked clashes in which dozens died, and has continued unabated since.